Froeber: Elevator fire a 'huge loss' for Ada

Friday

Jan 4, 2013 at 1:11 PMJan 4, 2013 at 1:12 PM

Crookston Fire Department sent multiple vehicles 35 miles south on Highway 9.

Katie Davidson, student staff writer

Firefighters from Crookston and numerous other communities in the region converged on downtown Ada Thursday night to battle a blaze at the Triple Crown elevator. In the end, the blaze won, with the elevator collapsing.

The Crookston Fire Department sent an aerial ladder truck and a pickup to the scene, CFD Chief Tim Froeber told the Times Friday morning.

"We were called at about 6:48 p.m. last night, and got there at about 7:30 p.m.," said Froeber. "It was a very extensive fire and was out of the capabilities of most area departments."

Besides Crookston, due to the intensity of the fire and Ada's small water supply, all fire crews from Moorhead, Ulen, Twin Valley, Gary, Shelly, Hendrum and Borup, with several other crews began to settle the flames – visible from at least 10 miles away – beginning at about 7 p.m. Fire crews from Crookston, Moorhead and Mahnomen were all requested.

According to Froeber, the construction workers in the elevator building who called in the fire were the only ones forced to evacuate the building, and neither citizens nor firefighters were injured. Froeber also mentioned that the State Fire Marshal's office investigator will be in Ada Friday to determine the cause of the elevator fire.

At 9 p.m. Thursday, a building attached to the elevator caved in, still burning and leaving rubble, flames and thick, heavy smoke coming from the 10-story building.

"All in all, it went about as good as it could have," mentioned Froeber. "Ada did a great job on protecting a new addition to the south end of the elevator complex, but this will be a huge loss for their community."

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